VA hosted a Facebook Live event August 22 to connect Veterans with benefit information and resources. Members of VA’s digital media team joined three Veterans in discussing their experiences using Explore.VA.gov.

Explore.VA.gov gives Veterans and family members basic information about VA benefits and services as well as links to more detailed information and application sites. During the video, Veterans discussed how easy the site is to use from the intuitive layout of the site to the simple, easy to understand language used to describe VA benefits and services.

“I think it’s a great space to get started, to find out where you’re going and explore what’s all available for you at VA,” shared Lt. Cmdr. Tommy Grove, Navy Reserves. “The different categories are very intuitive.”

When visiting Explore.VA.gov, Veterans can start by clicking the “Get Started” button on the homepage to use the VA Benefits Navigator. After a short questionnaire, Veterans will be matched with links to information about VA benefits they may be eligible to receive.

“You find out what you might be eligible for, and you open up that category and everything’s laid out. Here’s what you need paperwork-wise. Here’s who you need to contact, and here’s the link to contact them. Here’s how you can apply online,” said Maureen Elias, an Army Veteran and military spouse. “You’re not going to get lost in the process, as I think some Veterans do.”

When the video panel ended, VA’s social media team remained online to answer questions from participants and direct them to additional resources.

In case you missed it, check out some of the questions and answers below.

Many questions were posted asking for more information about specific benefit areas, such as spouse benefits and home loans.

Family members asked questions inquiring about how to better assist the Veterans in their life.

Some participants were interested in understanding how Veterans’ dates of service impact their VA benefit eligibility. VA directed participants to the VA Benefits Navigator as a starting place to research their benefits.

After filling out the questionnaire, Veterans were pleasantly surprised to find benefits they did not realize they may be eligible for.

Veterans who went directly to Explore.VA.gov found the site helpful in understanding their benefits.

Thank you to the panelists, all Veterans and their supporters who participated in the event! Stay tuned to the ExploreVA events page for information about upcoming events.

Author

Gary Hicks

is a public affairs specialist and serves as the senior writer in the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. He is a former managing editor of a daily newspaper and served in both the Army and Air Force prior to joining VA in 2006. Gary’s wife is an Air Force Senior NCO stationed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.